LCRA, PEC award grant to Llano County Historical Society

The Llano County Historical Society will be able to purchase new climate control equipment and lighting for its facility thanks to an $18,096 community development grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Llano.

The historical society will buy two new air conditioners and two commercial ceiling fans to better cool and circulate air in the museum, and LED lighting fixtures to better illuminate the exhibit area.

Llano County Historical Society Board Director Martha Long said providing a comfortable viewing experience and preserving the artifacts entrusted to the museum’s care are paramount.

“Our air conditioners are 29 years old and 15 years old, respectively, and it’s become expensive to maintain them for the poor job they do now to move and cool the air,” she said. “The new lighting will eliminate shadows and dark corners in the exhibit area and greatly improve the light in the area around the chuck wagon display. We also hope these improvements will help encourage more community members to not only visit, but increase donations of time, money and exhibits to the museum.”

The museum has been housed in the historic Bruhl’s Drugstore building since 1968. More than 2,700 people visited the museum last year. Long emphasized the museum is a key part of the historic and scenic attractions in Llano.

“The museum is two blocks from the Llano County Courthouse square and within walking distance of the Railroad District and Badu and Crenwelge parks,’’ she said. “The parks host numerous events and festivals. We’d like the museum to be able to fully participate, and even take the lead, in certain city events when it is modernized.”

The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA's Community Development Partnership Program. The program provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA's electric and water service areas. The program is part of LCRA's effort to give back to the communities it serves. The City of Llano is one of LCRA's wholesale electric customers and a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants are due July. 31. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.